Local Participants Announced for National CEO Trade Show

The Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship has announced that six students from the Effingham County CEO Program will be participating in the 2016 Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship Trade Show. The event will be held Monday, June 13, from 4-6pm at the Keller Convention Center in Effingham.

The Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship was established eight years ago in Effingham as a way to give high school seniors the opportunity to learn about how to start and run a business. The program now serves 512 students in 37 communities throughout five states, including Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado.

The Midland Institute CEO Program is built on the foundation that students learn problem-solving skills within the framework of establishing a business within their local community. Throughout the school year, local CEO programs visit established businesses and are mentored by local professionals as they learn the ins and outs of writing a business plan, networking, thinking entrepreneurially and marketing their business idea to the community.

Upon the conclusion of the course, students establish a viable business within their community. Each local CEO program hosts a local trade show where students' businesses are not only presented to local community members, but students also have the opportunity to sell product and establish relationships with new customers. After the trade show, each program selects one or two students to represent their community at the CEO National Trade Show. The Institute expects 60 students to present on June 13.

Effingham County CEO has selected Collin Hecht (Subtl Leathers), Mikayla Winters (Darling Dudi), Jared Minor and Drake Hill (Scape), Mindy Myers (Strings Attached), and Emma Speers (Whimsical We) to represent their program this year.

The national trade show is free and open to the public. Doors will open qat 3:30pm.